Uber Canada Accuses Vancouver Councillor of Fear Mongering

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Uber Canada Accuses Vancouver Councillor of Fear Mongering

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According to a report from CBC News, the general manager of Uber Canada is accusing a Vancouver councillor of fear mongering.

Uber Canada general manager Ian Black was responding to concerns expressed by Coun. Geoff Meggs about the ride-sharing service launching in the city of Vancouver. In a statement to CBC Radio, Black said:

“The comments of the councillor are a probably a little bit misinformed, and may be trying to fear monger.”

Meggs said that ride-sharing services like Uber are at a disadvantage because they do not have the same rules and regulations as current taxi systems, including criminal record checks, vehicle safety checks, and inspections.

In a statement, Black said:

“There are 60 jurisdictions around North America and the world that have already created ride-sharing regulations. All of them include the requirements that were just listed by the councillor, and those are all things that we do already, and would be happy to do in British Columbia.

Every Uber driver goes through a background check. Every Uber driver has their vehicle thoroughly inspected. Actually just last week in Toronto, we launched a wheelchair accessible service and we’re looking to roll that out in cities across Canada.”

Meggs’ comments came as the provincial government’s stance on ride-shares in B.C. Meggs believes if there are ride share companies operating on Vancouver streets, their presence should be provincially regulated.

Meggs said that Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson has also written to Transportation Minister Todd Stone to urge the province to create a new policy and legal framework for ride-sharing services.